Renault Announces Electric Vehicle Trial in Paris

Renault has just announced that together with its partner EDF it will launch an electric vehicle trial in Paris in 2010 that will allow the two test the cars, the electric infrastructure and the way people interact with the vehicles in real-life. The trial will officially commence in September 2010 and will rely on 100 electric Renault-Nissan Alliance passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

What's more interesting is that the French manufacturer says the tested cars will be identical to the series-produced models scheduled for release at the start of 2011.

Those selected to participate in the program will be able to use a charging infrastructure wherever they are, including at their home, at the workplace, in car parks or on the public highway. Obviously, to do this possible, Renault is collaborating with a number of public and private parties, as well as with Paris and Yvelines local authorities.

"To reconcile the demand for individual mobility with the preservation of the environment and high cost of oil, the Renault Nissan Alliance is committed to the development of “zero- emission” vehicles. THanks to our partnership with EDF, in 2011 we will be able to provide our customers in France with high-performance and affordable electric vehicles,” Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault and President and CEO of Nissan, said back in October when signing the agreement.

"This technological and industrial partnership paves the way for innovation that will promote the emergence of new-generation vehicles that are clean, competitive and ecologically virtuous. The aim is to recoNcile the challenges of individual mobility and economic growth with efforts to combat global warming. This is the commitment made by EDF, which ranks among the energy companies with the lowest CO2 emissions in Europe,” Pierre Gadonneix, Chairman and CEO of EDF, added.